Transgender woman appeals Phoenix prostitution conviction

PHOENIX -- A transgender woman who is an advocate for sex workers filed an
appeal Tuesday of her conviction on a prostitution-related charge as her lawyers
argued that the Phoenix law that led to her arrest was overly broad and violates
free-speech rights.

Monica Renee Jones, 29, was convicted in April under a city ordinance that
prohibits people from demonstrating -- or ``manifesting'' -- an intent to sell sex
in public places by flagging down passers-by, asking whether someone is a police
officer or taking other steps.

The Arizona State University student was accused of exposing herself in May
2013 to an undercover Phoenix police officer, asking him if he was an officer
and grabbing him.

Lawyers for Jones said their client didn't commit the crime and had only
accepted the undercover officer's offer to give her ride to a bar near her home.
They said she was flirting with the undercover officer and never intended to
solicit sex for money.

The municipal judge's guilty verdict had a deep impact on her, Jones said.
``For someone to say my truth- my story- was a lie affected me so greatly,''
she said.

A call to the Phoenix Prosecutor's Office, which pressed the case against
Jones, wasn't immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.

Jones was joined at a Tuesday news conference by Laverne Cox, a transgender
actress who stars as a transgender character in the Netflix prison series,
``Orange is the New Black.''

Cox said she was moved by Jones' bravery in challenging her conviction.

``Laws
like this manifestation law really support systematically the idea that girls
like me, girls like me and Monica, are less than (others) in this country,'' Cox
said.

Jones was convicted in Phoenix Municipal Court of the misdemeanor charge and
sentenced to 30 days in jail. Jones also had a 2012 misdemeanor prostitution
conviction. She is now appealing her latest conviction to Maricopa County
Superior Court.

Her attorneys say the law is overbroad and prohibits speech that's allowed
under the First Amendment, such as talking to passers-by.

Jean-Jacques Cabou, the attorney leading the appeal, said the city law doesn't
draw a line between which behavior is acceptable and which is not.

``We all have a right to know what's a crime and what's not,'' Cabou said.